The Serpent Never Sleeps: A Novel of Jamestown and Pocahontas [Hardcover]

Scott O'Dell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 28, 1987

Pocahontas and early Jamestown are brought to life through the eyes of the Newbery Award winner's latest historical heroine.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This latest historical novel by the award-winning author transports readers from a lavish 17th century English castle across the Atlantic to a shipwreck off Bermuda and finally to the struggling early settlement at Jamestown. As always, O'Dell writes seamlessly about historical settings. His young protagonist, a castle maid, Serena Lynn, follows nobleman Anthony Foxcroft to the New World; when he is killed, she hopes to return to England before deciding that her life is in America. A stream of dramatic action makes this story mostly compelling to read, but Pocahontas, appearing long after her famous encounter with Captain Smith, befriends Serena too late to provide a strong climax to the tale. Despite this, the novel provides a spinning sense of immediacy with underplayed but key events: the arrival of King James's English translation of the Bible in Jamestown; the near-constant debate of settlers as to whether to face a hazardous journey back to England or the bleak-looking future in the New World. Illustrations not seen by PW. Ages 10-up.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-9 Serena Lynn is in love with Anthony Foxcroft, son of the wealthy English countess for whom she works. When Anthony accidentally kills a servant, he must leave the country, and Serena joins him on a boat sailing for Jamestown. The blend of romantic notions and fierce determination allows her to survive Anthony's incarceration aboard ship, a life-threatening sea journey, a shipwreck on Bermuda, Anthony's drowning death, and the early days of harsh life in Jamestown. But without Anthony the new world holds no appeal. In an effort to return to England, Serena volunteers to aid in luring Pocahontas back to Jamestown. The mission begins a special friendship between the two young women and a new and happier life for Serena. Although Serena appears to be a fictional character, other characters and events are historically factual. O'Dell creates a vividly detailed picture of the time period, including the many political power struggles. However, the picture, stretching from England to Bermuda to Jamestown, is very much a panorama. There are so many events and characters portrayed that it will be difficult for readers to feel any sense of involvement with or understanding of the characters. Even Serena's motivations aren't fully examined. It is never clear why she is so taken with the self-absorbed Anthony or why she feels such an affinity for Pocahontas. Despite the lack of focus and the emotional texture found in O'Dell's earlier works, this book is worth reading for the fascinating story and would be a fine supplement to a colonial history lesson. Heide Piehler, Shorewood Public Library, Wis.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin; 1St Edition edition (September 28, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395442427
• ISBN-13: 978-0395442425
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,164,921 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Scott O'Dell (1898-1989), one of the most respected authors of historical fiction, received the Newbery Medal, three Newbery Honor Medals, and the Hans Christian Andersen Author Medal, the highest international recognition for a body of work by an author of books for young readers. Some of his many books include The Island of the Blue Dolphins, The Road to Damietta, Sing Down the Moon, and The Black Pearl.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars I expected better. . ., June 9, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Serpent Never Sleeps (Mass Market Paperback)

from the author of "The Island of Blue Dolphins." I found "The Serpent Never Sleeps" to be a rather weak novel with a sketchy plot and poor charcter development. Nothing in the book seems to be developed! Characters come and go for no reason such as Serena's brother who disappears after a couple of pages. Other characters are never developed such as Emma Swinton. Is she the accused murderer and why does she want Humility so badly? We are never told! Also Anthony Foxcroft was such a weak character that his death carries no emotional impact. The main character, Serena, does things for no rational reason. Why did she learn the Indian language? Why does she believe that only she can save Jamestown? Why she does these things is never explained- she just does them. The result is a novel with a plot that is paper thin and very sketchy. "The Serpent Never Sleeps" is not one of O'Dell's finer works.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good, but not as good as "Island of the Blue Dolphins", July 19, 2000

By 

Robert James (Culver City, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Serpent Never Sleeps (Mass Market Paperback)

Scott O'Dell was a great writer of historical novels for young readers. "Island of the Blue Dolphins" is still one of my favorites from childhood. I recently picked up "The Serpent Never Sleeps" to see what he did with colonial Virginia, and I was somewhat disappointed. In a historical novel, there is really no place for magic that works; Serena's magic ring just jarred my sense of disbelief something fierce. If it had been an all-out fantasy, I would have enjoyed it more. But the journey to Virginia is told with real gusto, as is their shipwreck in the Bahamas. The arrival in Jamestown is fraught with danger and the threat of starvation, and only Serena (who knows Pocahontas) can save them. A decent adventure, just not O'Dell's best.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Sorry, Scott O'Dell, this one was a slight flop, January 25, 2002

By 

Monica (MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Serpent Never Sleeps (Mass Market Paperback)

I found this book mildly interesting, and for me that's a waste of time. I read books that will give me a wild, deep, thoughtful, or sensitive ride. This book did none of that. I appreciated the part where Serena threw away her magical ring, realising it was wrong to be at peace knowing SHE would be safe, while her poor companions could die. I read a different edition of the book, I don't know if it had the same illustrations, but I read a hardcover edition and there was a picture of Pocahontas for the second section that make her look UGLY, contradicting the amazing beauty the book talks about. The romance that developed between Serena and Thomas was rather undeveloped. I appreciated the insight about John Rolfe being torn because Pocahontas wasn't a believer, but I wish he had waited until she was.
The other thing was, WHEN DID SERENA GET MARRIED? I read kinda fast at the end b/c I was bored, but i caught Tom asking her and she said no, then later on, she says she'd never seen a man so happy, referring to John Rolfe when he married Pocahontas, except her Tom. ....